New Deal

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people have been assisted by the new deal in Coventry South; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The new deal for young people has helped to virtually eradicate long term youth unemployment and has been successful in helping nearly 650,000 young people into work. Information on the numbers of young people helped by the programme in Coventry South is in the following table:
	
		New deal for young people in Coventry South
		
			 Individuals starting new deal for young people(1) Individuals into work through new deal for young people(2) 
		
		
			 2,180 1,290 
		
	
	(1) Latest data to the end of November 2005.
	(2) Latest data to the end of August 2005.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate.

Ambition Programme

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many unemployed people have participated in the Ambition programme in each month since its commencement; how many people are participating in the programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many previously unemployed people participating in the Ambition programme have been identified as still working in the same sector 26 weeks after gaining a job, broken down by sector; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment the Department has made of the Ambition programme since its introduction; what plans there are to continue with the programme; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 23 January 2006
	8,357 people participated in the time-limited Ambition programmes.
	Information on the total number of people participating on the programme at any one time is not collected however the average number of starters per month, by sector, is in the table.
	
		Ambition programme—average starts to the programme per month
		
			  Date programme first started Total number of participants Number of months programme delivered Average number of starters per month 
		
		
			 Retail June 2002 1,060 24 44 
			 IT April 2003 2,020 30 67 
			 Construction July 2002 1,696 30 57 
			 HealthOctober 2004 397 9 44 
			 Energy March 2002 3,184 45 71 
		
	
	Source:
	Employer Services Division, Department for Work and Pensions.
	Ambition Retail, IT and Construction have now come to an end and Ambition Energy and Health will end in March.
	There are currently 331 people participating on the Ambition programme, of which 225 people are undergoing training with Ambition Energy, and 106 people with Ambition Health.
	The number of people who secured a within 13 weeks of completing training and who were still working in the same sector after 26 weeks is set out in the following table.
	
		Ambition programme
		
			   Programme   Job entries Still in an Ambition job in the same sector after 26 weeks 
		
		
			 Ambition Energy 2,055 1,386 
			 Ambition Retail 544 337 
			 Ambition Construction 852 517 
			 Ambition IT 765 483 
			 Ambition Health 116 10 
		
	
	Source:
	Employer Services Division, Department for Work and Pensions
	Courses for Energy and Health are still running, therefore final retention figures will not be available until late in 2006.
	The Ambition programme has shown that the collaborative approach adopted in working with industry and sector based partners has been highly successful. The programme has met its aims of supporting people into employment while at the same time developing new approaches to training and facilitating closer links with the key sector partners.
	We published an Ambition report last year "Ambition: identifying best practice for demand-led approaches" GHK Consulting, DWP Research Report 264, 2005, which is in the Library. We will ensure that successful aspects of the Ambition programmes are incorporated into policies and programmes.

Job Centres

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the turnover of staff was in job centres in (a) the London borough of Hillingdon, (b) Greater London and (c) England in the calendar year 2005.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the turnover of staff in Jobcentres in (a) the London Borough of Hillingdon, (b) Greater London and (c) England in the calendar year 2005. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus does not hold figures for the turnover of staff for individual London boroughs, for Greater London or for England alone. However we do collect figures under the following headings:
	
		Staff turnover rates for the period December 2004 to December 2005 Percentage
		
			  Staff turnover rate 
		
		
			 Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon District 5.8 
			 London Government Office Region 6.2 
			 Great Britain 6.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Combined Dataview
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what national targets have been set for Jobcentre Plus benefit application processing times; and what has been performance against targets over the last two years.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what national targets have been set for Jobcentre Plus benefit application processing times and what has been performance against targets over the last two years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus does not have targets for benefit processing times. However, data relating to claim clearance times is collected and measured against "acceptable standards of delivery" that are set at the beginning of the year. The length of time it takes to process a claim is measured by looking at the Actual Average Clearance Time of claims within a set period and is a Key Management Indicator.
	The acceptable standards of delivery are: Income Support— 12 days, Jobseeker's Allowance—12 days, Incapacity Benefit— 9 days.
	The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			 Monthly average actual clearance times Income support (12 days acceptable standard) Jobseeker's allowance (12 days acceptable standard) Incapacity benefit (19 days acceptable standard) 
		
		
			 2004
			 January 10.9 11.1 19.2 
			 February 10.8 11.7 17.4 
			 March 10.7 11.4 17.0 
			 April 11.2 11.6 16.7 
			 May 11.5 11.8 16.6 
			 June 10.9 11.5 17.4 
			 July 10.7 11.8 17.2 
			 August 10.8 12.8 17.0 
			 September 10.9 12.3 17.2 
			 October 10.8 12.2 16.6 
			 November 10.9 12.3 17.2 
			 December 10.5 11.8 16.4 
			 2005
			 January 11.1 12.2 20.2 
			 February 10.2 12.8 16.6 
			 March 10.0 12.4 14.9 
			 April 10.3 12.4 16.0 
			 May 10.5 12.9 15.5 
			 June 10.5 13.1 15.0 
			 July 10.7 13.5 14.9 
			 August 11.2 14.1 14.7 
			 September 11.4 14.7 15.6 
			 October 11.6 15.4 15.7 
			 November 11.7 15.6 16,1 
			 December 11.6 14.7 15.5 
		
	
	A Jobseeker's Allowance taskforce has been created to address fluctuating Jobseeker's Allowance clearance times and set in place immediate recovery measures, whilst longer term issues are also being taken forward. More immediate measures include the more effective distribution of workloads amongst the Contact Centre network to improve performance.
	Building on the taskforce's work, the Jobcentre Plus Chief Operating Officer launched a National Action Plan in the week commencing 30 January. The Action Plan is built around a mandatory series of "health checks", taking local managers through the whole end to end process, identifying key risk elements and, where a part of the process fails the health check, directing managers to appropriate good practice products and tool-kits. Regular reviews are undertaken to ensure areas of our business do not fall below expectation. We are already seeing improvements following the introduction of these measures.
	I hope this is helpful.

Lone Parents (Work-focused Interviews)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to use the private and voluntary sectors to deliver work-focused interviews to lone parents; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The private and voluntary sectors already deliver a significant proportion of our services to the public and we intend continuing our partnerships with not-for-profit and private sector organisations to encourage innovation and support delivery of our objectives, particularly in helping customers to address barriers to work.
	In our recently published Green Paper "A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work", we have proposed increased contact with lone parents through more frequent work focused interviews, as well as the intention to pilot a work-related activity premium to encourage lone parents with older children to take serious steps to return to work.

Social Fund/Jobseeker's Allowance

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the Department's target is for the time taken to process (a) a social fund application and (b) a jobseeker's allowance claim; and how many days on average were taken to process applications in the latest month for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the Department's target is for the time taken to process (a) a Crisis Loan application and (b) a benefit application; and how many days on average were taken to process applications in the latest month for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking: what the Department's target is for the time taken to process (a) a social fund application and (b) a job seeker's allowance claim; and how many days on average were taken to process applications in the latest month for which figures are available; and, what the Department's target is for the time taken to process (a) a crisis loan application and (b) a benefit application; and how many days on average were taken to process applications in the latest month for which figures are available.
	This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus defines its speed of processing benchmarks by reference to clearance times. By this we mean how many working days it takes, on average, to process benefit claims. This is referred to as the Actual Average Clearance Time (AACT) and each benefit is set its own AACT benchmark.
	For 2005–06 the Department has set as acceptable standards of delivery the following AACTs for all five elements of the Social Fund.
	9 days for Community Care Grants;
	6 days for Budgeting Loans;
	2 days for Crisis Loans;
	16 days for Funeral Payments;
	5 days for Sure Start Maternity Grants.
	For 2005–06 the Department has set the acceptable standard of delivery for Jobseekers Allowance at 12 days AACT.
	The information requested on average clearance times is in the table.
	
		
			 Benefit Standard AACT set for 2005–06—days Actual AACT—days December 2005 
		
		
			 Social fund community care grants 9 8.7 
			 Social fund budgeting loans 6 3.2 
			 Social fund crisis loans 2 1.4 
			 Social fund funeral payments 16 11.4 
			 Social fund sure start maternity grants 5 3.6 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 12 14.7 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System and Jobcentre Plus Ml Portal.
	A JSA taskforce has been created to address fluctuating JSA clearance times and set in place immediate recovery measures, whilst longer term and more fundamental issues are also being taken forward. More immediate measures include the more effective distribution of workloads amongst the Contact Centre network to improve performance.
	Building on the taskforce work, the Jobcentre Plus Chief Operating Officer will shortly launch a National Action Plan. The Action Plan is built around a mandatory series of "health checks", taking local managers through the whole end to end process, identifying key risk elements and, where a part of the process fails the health check, directing managers to appropriate good practice products and tool-kits. This will be strengthened by regular senior management attention particularly in this area. Where performance is below expectation, Districts and Contact Centres will be required to draw up their own individual recovery plans.
	I hope this is helpful.

Recycling

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding (a) Uxbridge and (b) the London Borough of Hillingdon received to support recycling in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Funding and Support for Hillingdon from 1997:
	London Borough of Hillingdon received £402,500 in London's 2002–04 Round of funding (£202,500 Capital and £200,000 Revenue) for their project titled "Kerbside Collection of Compostable Garden Waste".
	
		
			  Local authorities  Funding type Funding short description  Funding amount  Funding description  Start Date  End Date 
		
		
			 Hillingdon LB WPEG WPEG 225,905.00 Capital: 127,071 .52 1 April 2005 31 March 2006 
			 Revenue: 98,833.41   
			
			 Hillingdon LB LASU DCS HWRC Sites 18,018.00 Civic Amenity Site Re- Engineering (Design Phase) 1 April 2004 31 March 2005 
			
			 Hillingdon LB LASU DCS HWRCs 16,481.00 Civic Amenity Site Re- Engineering (Design Phase) 1 April 2005 31 March 2006 
		
	
	LASU DCS stands for Local Authority Support, Direct Consultancy Support which is not direct funding but the equivalent value in consultancy services.

Child Abuse

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department has commissioned a report into the scale of alleged child abuse related to witchcraft practices.

Maria Eagle: In September 2005, the Department for Education and Skills commissioned a study to scope the problem of child abuse in England linked to belief in "possession" or "witchcraft", or in other ways related to particular spiritual or religious belief, and to consider the circumstances leading to such abuse and the common features between cases. The report of this study was submitted to the Department in January, and will be published when Ministers have considered its findings and recommendations.

Child Protection

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on teachers working without police record checks in (a) state and (b) private schools; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: We strongly recommend Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks are made as part of the appointment process on anybody who will be working in a maintained school, further education institution or LEA education service. The law already requires independent schools to make CRB checks on the suitability of staff to work with children prior to confirming their appointment.
	"Safeguarding children in education" (September 2004) emphasises the wider responsibilities of employers, including adopting recruitment practices which involve scrutinising applicants, verifying any qualifications, obtaining references, checking previous job history, as well as checking List 99 and making a CRB check where appropriate.
	Changes announced recently by the Secretary of State will make a CRB check compulsory prior to appointment, or as soon as practicable after, for all new appointments to the maintained school workforce where the individual concerned has not worked in a school or institution within the further education sector for at least three months prior to the appointment. There is no requirement to obtain a CRB disclosure on existing staff. Employers will continue to have discretion to seek a disclosure where they have grounds for concern about the suitability of an existing member of staff.

Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Minister of State for Schools and 14 to 19 Learners will reply to the correspondence from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed dated 15 September 2005 relating to education maintenance allowance; and what the reasons are for the delay in replying.

Maria Eagle: I responded to the hon. Member's letter on 27 February.

Education Provision (Hendon)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of 14-year-olds in Hendon reached the required standards in English and mathematics in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of children in primary schools in Hendon reached the required standard in mathematics, English and science in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the A and AS-level results in Hendon in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997;
	(4)  what percentage of secondary school students in Hendon achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Pupils nationally have made excellent progress since 1997. At Key Stage 2 there has been a 16 percentage point improvement in English and a 13 percentage point improvement in mathematics up to 2005. The improvement in the proportion of 15-year-olds achieving five A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalents has been 11 percentage points. At Key Stage 3, there have been improvements in the core subjects of English, mathematics, science and ICT. The 2005 provisional results show increases of 17, 14, 10, and 19 percentage points respectively since 1997.
	These improvements flow directly from the success of our National Strategies. At primary level the introduction of the daily literacy and mathematics hours mean that compared with 1997, 84,000 more 11-year-olds left school in 2005 with the necessary basic skills in reading, writing and numeracy. In the four years since the introduction of the Key Stage 3 strategy, now extended to the Secondary National Strategy, the model of support and challenge for teachers has been very effective. The Strategy has made great gains in improving the life chances of 14-year-olds—the greatest improvements have been in the areas of highest deprivation. Last year's results mean that approximately 103,000 more 14-year-olds achieved the target level for their age in English and 86,000 more did so in mathematics, than in 1997.
	The proportion of 11 and 14-year-old pupils achieving the expected levels in English and mathematics and the GCSE and equivalent achievements of young people, in 1997 and the latest available year, in the Hendon constituency are available on the 'In Your Area' website at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea/. 2005 figures are not yet available at constituency level for 14-year-olds but will be published on the 'In Your Area' website shortly.
	The 'In Your Area' website does not hold information relating to the achievements of 11-year-old pupils in science or the A/AS-level results by constituency. This information is given in the following tables.
	
		Proportion of pupils achieving level 4 or more, in KS2 science in Hendon 1997 and 2005 Percentage pupils achieving level 4 or more
		
			 Science Hendon England 
		
		
			 1997 68 69 
			 2005 87 86 
			 Percentage point difference 19 17 
		
	
	
		The average point score per candidate and per examination entry for 16 to 18-year-old A-level candidates in Hendon 1997 and 2005
		
			 Average point score Hendon England 
		
		
			 1997(5)   
			 Per candidate 15.8 17.3 
			 Per examination 5.4 5.3 
			
			 2005(6)   
			 Per candidate 281.3 277.6 
			 Per examination 84.7 79.9 
		
	
	(5) 1997 figures for average A-level point score include GCE A and AS qualifications.
	(6) 2005 figures include GCE/VCE A/AS and VCE Double Award qualifications as well as Key Skills at Level 3 achievements by A-level candidates.
	This information is consistent with that published in the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables) in 1997 and in 2005. The points awarded for A-level grades in those years are given as follows:
	
		
			 Grade 1997 2005 
		
		
			 A 10 120 
			 B 8 100 
			 C 6 80 
			 D 4 60 
			 E 2 40

Education Provision (Hendon)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children there were on average in infant classes in Hendon in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	Legislation limits infant class size to a maximum of 30 pupils to a school teacher. The statistics show that since 1997 there has been a decrease in the average size of infant classes in Hendon and across England as a whole.
	Data on infant class sizes at national, local authority and parliamentary constituency level can also be found at the following link: Schools and Pupils in England: January 2005 (Final) in the "additional information" sections 4 and 5.

Foreign Postgraduate Students

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from (a) Iran, (b) Burma, (c) China, (d) Sudan, (e) North Korea and (f) Syria are undertaking postgraduate research in (i) nuclear physics, (ii) biology, (iii) chemistry and (iv) dispersal effects; what courses such students are undertaking; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The latest information is given in the following table:
	
		Postgraduate research enrolments, by subject and domicile, at UK higher education institutions 2004–05
		
			 Subject(7) Iran Burma China Sudan North Korea Syria 
		
		
			 Biology 15 0 55 (11)— 0 5 
			 Chemistry 15 (11)— 200 (11)— (11)— 5 
			 Physics2, 3 15 0 80 5 0 5 
			 Chemical process and energy engineering3, 4 30 0 85 (11)— 0 5 
		
	
	(7) Dispersal effects is not separately identified in the JACS course classification.
	(8) Includes "nuclear and particle physics".
	(9) Individual courses within these groups cannot be consistently identified separately.
	(10) Includes "atomic engineering" and "nuclear engineering".
	(11) Denotes a number less than 3.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.
	The student Voluntary Vetting Scheme has been in operation since 1994. Its guiding principle is to prevent academic contact and access to postgraduate studies that might be of significant value to the Weapons of Mass Destruction programmes in countries of WMD proliferation concern. Students at postgraduate level from Burma, China and Sudan are not subject to the Voluntary Vetting Scheme provisions as they currently operate.

School Admissions Code

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the reference to the code for school admissions in Clause 37 of the Education and Inspections Bill refers to the version of the code contained in the draft School Admissions Code of Practice 2005.

Jacqui Smith: Clause 37 does not refer to the draft Code of Practice that was circulated for consultation in July 2005. We decided not to lay this code, as I announced on 13 December.
	This clause amends current legislation to ensure that in future the code will have greater force. Admission authorities will have to "act in accordance" with the new code rather than "have regard" to its provisions. As a result of this, and to reflect other changes in the Bill, a revised School Admissions Code will be drafted and consulted on, before being laid before Parliament.

School Leavers (Qualifications)

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people left school at 16 years of age in (a) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood, (b) Hillingdon local education authority, (c) Greater London and (d) England with less than the equivalent of five GCSE A-C grades in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of pupils 1 leaving school with less than five A*-C at GCSE and Equivalents 2 is found as follows:
	1 Number of pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year.
	2 GCSE/GNVQs are included from 1998 to 2003 and GCSEs and equivalents approved for pre-16 use from 2004. Results include achievements of pupils in previous years.
	
		Pupils not achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE and equivalent Number
		
			  Ruislip-Northwood(20) Hillingdon(20) Greater London(20) England(21) 
		
		
			 1998 379 1,383 37,944 308,779 
			 1999 372 1,409 37,320 302,412 
			 2000 326 1,304 36,032 294,657 
			 2001 365 1,393 36,926 301,701 
			 2002 369 1,408 35,533 293,815 
			 2003 350 1,400 34,920 292,740 
			 2004 335 1,529 34,533 297,767 
			 2005 341 1,451 32,687 278,383 
		
	
	
		Pupils not achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE and equivalent Percentage
		
			  Ruislip-Northwood(20) Hillingdon(20) Greater London(20) England(21) 
		
		
			 1998 46.6 56.0 57.9 53.7 
			 1999 45.8 55.9 56.4 52.1 
			 2000 40.6 52.1 54.5 50.8 
			 2001 43.9 52.9 53.9 50.0 
			 2002 43.7 54.0 51.5 48.4 
			 2003 40.8 52.4 49.3 47.1 
			 2004 37.9 52.1 47.0 46.3 
			 2005 38.9 49.5 44.8 43.7 
		
	
	(20) Based on maintained sector schools only, this includes city technology colleges and academies but excludes hospital schools and pupil referral units.
	(21) Includes all schools.

Skills Passport

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Skills Passport scheme.

Phil Hope: Government commitment to develop and promote Skills Passports were announced in the 2004 pre-Budget report, "Skills in the Global Economy" and the 2005 Skills White Paper, "Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work". We are taking these commitments forward in two ways:
	by working with the Sector Skills Development Agency, Sector Skills Councils, the Small Business Council and others, to develop Skills Passports that meet the needs of employers to recruit and develop people with the skills they require; and
	by testing out a Skills Passport in the Skills Coaching trials, to help benefit recipients improve their employability by identifying, developing and recording their skills and qualifications. Skills Passports form part of New Deal for Skills which is aimed at improving the skills of those people with lower level skills to help them secure sustainable employment, and improving the skills of employees to help them progress into higher skilled occupations.

A12

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on whose authority road signs showing the turn offs to Writtle and Danbury on the A12 in the Chelmsford local authority area were removed; what the reasons were for the removal; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Writtle has never been a destination signed from the A12 trunk road.
	The Highways Agency made the decision to remove Danbury local direction signs on the northbound A12, acting for the highway authority, the Secretary of State for Transport.
	A signing strategy for the A12 was discussed and agreed with Essex county council in 2003.
	A scheme to reduce accidents in the vicinity of the A12/A414 off slip, funded in this financial year, has provided the opportunity to review signing at this location and the Danbury sign was removed in line with the agreed strategy.
	Advice on signing of destinations is provided in Local Transport Note 1/94 "Design and Use of Direction Informatory Signs". The Highways Agency provides enough information on signs to aid drivers, but not so much as might prove distracting to them. In addition, current standards require most street furniture and signposts to be protected by safety fencing to prevent strikes by errant vehicles. Safety fencing is expensive and there may be insufficient space in the highway verge to provide it, therefore the Highways Agency seeks to minimise the presence of street furniture for road safety and economy reasons.

A12

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used to make the decision (a) to keep a road sign on the A12 in the Chelmsford local authority area showing the turn off to the Antiques Centre at Battlesbridge and (b) to remove road signs showing the turn offs to Writtle and Danbury; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The sign for the Antique Centre at Battlesbridge will remain in place until such time as an improvement scheme is undertaken in the vicinity. At that time it will be reviewed under Departmental Standard TD 52/04 "Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England" or its successors, at which point it may be concluded that the sign be removed.
	Writtle has never been a destination signed from the A12 trunk road.
	Advice on direction signing is provided to the Highways Agency in Local Transport Note 1/94 "Design and Use of Direction Informatory Signs". The Highways Agency provides enough information on signs to aid drivers, but not so much as might prove distracting to them. A signing strategy for the A12 was discussed and agreed with Essex county council in 2003, which excluded signing for Danbury.
	A scheme to reduce accidents in the vicinity of the A12/A414 off slip has provided the opportunity to review the signs on the northbound carriageway and the Danbury sign was removed.

Coastal Protection

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of Lord Donaldson's proposal to designate the coast around the Isles of Scilly as (a) a Marine Environmental High Risk Area and (b) an Area to be Avoided;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the (a) voluntary and (b) statutory measures on the coast and coastal waters of (i) the Isles of Scilly and (ii) Cornwall on their capacity to provide protection for the coast and marine environment from (A) pollution and (B) the foundering and collision of cargo vessels.

Stephen Ladyman: Lord Donaldson said in his report "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas" that the Scilly Isles were an obvious candidate for MEHRA status. However he made it clear that the actual decision on which areas would be MEHRAs must be founded on criteria, based on both shipping patterns and environmental importance. Lord Donaldson did not prejudge the outcome of this process.
	Lord Donaldson also said that there may be a case for an Area to be Avoided (ATBA) or ATBAs, although he appreciated there is a need for the approaches to ports to be left unobstructed. Again, Lord Donaldson did not prejudge the outcome of these deliberations.
	Building on Lord Donaldson's report, the Department for Transport and the Department of the Environment (now Defra) worked closely with Devolved Administrations and statutory nature conservation advisors to develop the process for identifying MEHRAs through a robust and objective methodology. This included a parallel assessment of pollution from shipping risk and environmental sensitivity. Other environmental protection measures already in place at each location were also taken into consideration.
	Lord Donaldson's recommendation that the criteria should be set in such a way that not more than about a tenth of the UK coastline qualifies was also taken into account. Consequently, in accordance with this principle and the methodology, only those areas which scored highly both in terms of environmental sensitivity and in terms of risk from shipping qualified as MEHRAs.
	The environmental sensitivity for the Isles of Scilly was not in question in this assessment. This is already acknowledged through existing protective measures that reduce the risks to such an extent that all the qualifying criteria for MEHRA status are not met.
	The proposal for an ATBA for the Isles of Scilly was discussed in detail at two UK Safety of Navigation (UKSON) Committee meetings. They decided that there was no evidence that existing routeing measures were ineffective and an ATBA would not necessarily enhance the measures currently in place.
	There are three traffic separation schemes, with associated inshore traffic zones, which have been adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in close proximity to the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. These are:
	(1) West of the Scilly Isles
	(2) South of the Scilly Isles
	(3) Off Land's End, between Seven Stones and Longships.
	There is also an IMO-adopted Recommendation on Navigation off the Isles of Scilly which advises laden tankers over 10,000 gross tonnage using the traffic separation scheme between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly to keep at least three miles seaward of Wolf Rock and further advises such vessels not to use the scheme in restricted visibility or other adverse weather.
	Additionally, an IMO-adopted voluntary reporting scheme recommends that laden tankers using the Isles of Scilly route to report to Falmouth Coastguard when at least one hour from the Estimated Time of Arrival of entering the route and on final departure.
	If, despite the routeing measures which are in place, a maritime incident occurs in the waters around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, there are a number of safeguards in place.
	A dedicated, Government-funded emergency towing vessel is on stand-by 24 hours a day, 365 days a year ready to respond to shipping incidents in the South Western approaches.
	The Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), provides overall command and control of operations during marine emergencies. The powers of direction invested in SOSREP are extensive and, as well as being an international first for the UK, the SOSREP role has proved very successful in a number of shipping incidents.
	The UK has a well developed National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations, which would be implemented in the event of a significant maritime incident (and it is worth noting that Cornwall county council has its own coastal counter pollution contingency plan which complements the National Contingency Plan).
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is well prepared to respond to a marine pollution incident. Counter pollution resources are stored on the Isles of Scilly and at Falmouth for response to small incidents. In the event of a larger incident, appropriate equipment from the major UK Counter Pollution stockpiles at Milford Haven, Huddersfield and Perth would be mobilised, and a sizeable stockpile of oil spill dispersants is located at Saltash. All counter pollution resources are maintained by private contractors, and strict contractual stipulations are in place for mobilisation anywhere within the UK within pre-determined timescales.

Drink-driving

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking in relation to new vehicle technologies to reduce the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.

Stephen Ladyman: We have made provision in the Road Safety Bill, which received its Second Reading in this House last week, to enable courts in certain circumstances to offer drink drive offenders the opportunity to participate in "alcohol ignition interlock" programmes.
	When fitted to a vehicle's ignition, these devices are designed to prevent the vehicle being driven until a specimen of breath has been given in which the proportion of alcohol does not exceed a specified amount.
	Experience in other countries has shown that ignition interlocks can be effective in reducing reoffending and have potential for reducing the number of drink-related collisions. However, before considering their introduction here, we have commissioned research into the acceptability and impact of ignition interlocks on drink drive offenders in this country and the practicalities of fitting, maintaining and monitoring the use of these devices. This is due to be completed by spring 2007.

Transport Innovation

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Transport Innovation bids have been received from the regions on (a) roads, (b) rail, (c) bus, (d) road pricing and (e) other matters; when he will announce the decision on allocations of funding; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The Transport Innovation Fund has two entry points: congestion and productivity. The process for bidding through both entry points is set out in "Transport Innovation Fund: Guidance January 2006", copies of which have been placed in the Library. As yet there have been no congestion fund bids. There is no bidding process for the productivity part of the fund. We will be identifying a shortlist of potential candidates, against the criteria for productivity schemes set out in the guidance, and after seeking the views of the English Regional Development Agencies.
	We expect to make decisions on the allocation of both first round congestion and productivity funding towards the end of this year.
	I refer the hon. Member to the written statement given on 26 January 2006, Official Report, columns 66–67WS by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the United States has paid for the use of Ascension Island as a military base.

Douglas Alexander: The arrangement under which the United States is able to use Ascension Island as a military base is commonly referred to as the Bahamas Agreement.
	According to Article 23 of this Agreement "the Sites shall be provided, and the rights of the Government of the United States of America under this Agreement shall be made available, free from all rent and charges to the Government of the United States of America".

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Ascension Island officials on permanent residency.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, in another Place on 6 March 2006 Official Report, columns 527–29.

Chad/Sudan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether violence from Darfur is crossing the border into Chad;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the security situation around Adré, Chad.

Ian Pearson: We remain concerned by the security situation in Darfur and along the Chadian border. Rebel groups and militia from both Chad and Sudan regularly cross the border, and there have been reports of further clashes in recent days. The situation in Adré and along the border is tense. Stability in both countries is vital for the region and we therefore welcome the peace agreement signed by the Presidents of both Sudan and Chad in Libya on 8 February. We call on the parties to honour it.
	During his visit to Sudan on 21–23 February, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development raised these issues with the Government of Sudan and impressed upon them the need to improve the security situation in Darfur. In their meeting with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 3 February, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, and my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, also pressed on the need to reduce tensions with Chad.

Israel (Palestinian Land)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations the Government has made to the Israeli Government on Israel taking more Palestinian land for settlements, roads and the Wall in the West Bank and East Jerusalem;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the stated intentions of the Acting Israeli Prime Minister to declare new borders which annex the major settlement blocks of East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.

Kim Howells: Under Phase Three of the Roadmap, final status issues can only be resolved through negotiations and agreement between the parties themselves. We share the Quartet's (EU, UN, US and Russia) goal of a two-state solution with Israel secure within her borders and Palestine established as a viable, contiguous state. We shall continue to work to this end.
	We will continue to raise our concerns over the settlements and the barrier with the Israeli Government at all levels.
	Our ambassador in Tel Aviv last raised our concerns about settlements and impact of the barrier in East Jerusalem with the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 December 2005. He also raised Palestinian access to the Jordan Valley on 2 March with the Israeli Prime Minister's Special Adviser.
	Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The Roadmap is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction including the "natural growth" of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since March 2001.
	We also fully recognise Israel's right to self-defence. A barrier is a reasonable way to achieve this. But the barrier's route should be on or behind the Green Line, and not on occupied territory. Construction of the barrier on Palestinian land is illegal. The route is particularly damaging around East Jerusalem, as it risks cutting the city off from the West Bank and dividing the West Bank in two.

Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies his Department has adopted to assist the United Kingdom's fulfilment of the Lisbon Agenda criteria.

Douglas Alexander: The Government strongly supports the renewed Lisbon focus on "jobs and growth" as the best way to meet the challenges of globalisation and boost prosperity and living standards for all. The UK National Reform Programme (a copy of which is available in the Library of the House) details our policy response to these challenges. We expect the Spring Council in March to emphasise the importance of implementation of national commitments to reform.

Michael Shields

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Bulgarian authorities in relation to Michael Shields, imprisoned in Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary first raised Michael Shields' case with the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Ivailo Kalfin, on 21 September 2005 and has since registered his continued interest on 18 October and 8 December. He also raised Michael Shields' case with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, Foreign Minister and Europe Minister, Meglena Kuneva, on 16 December 2005. I also raised the case with Prime Minister Stanishev during my visit to Sofia on 6 February.

Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policies her Department has adopted to assist the United Kingdom's fulfilment of the Lisbon Agenda criteria.

James Purnell: The Government strongly support the renewed Lisbon focus on "jobs and growth" as the best way to meet the challenges of globalisation and boost prosperity and living standards for all. The UK National Reform programme details our policy response to these challenges. My Department is fully engaged in the Government-wide commitment to better regulation and is also playing a key part in raising skills levels, particularly in the art and creative sectors. My Department also has a number of projects connected to the PSA target to maximise the contribution which tourism and the creative and leisure industries can make to the economy which will also help the UK to achieve its Lisbon Agenda targets.
	We expect the spring Council in March to emphasise the importance of implementation of national commitments to reform.

Afghanistan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the oral answer of 1 March 2006, Official Report, column 243, on Afghanistan, what conditions must be met before he considers that it will be safe for officials from his Department to work in Helmand.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has a duty of care to all its employees and careful consideration is given to their safety and security. For DFID staff to be deployed to Helmand, a number of mandatory security arrangements will need to be in place. At a minimum these security arrangements will match those provided by other Government Departments involved in the civilian deployment to Helmand.
	For all staff working in Afghanistan, DFID already has stringent security procedures in place. All DFID staff must comply with these at all times. Any staff deployed to Helmand would also be subject to these procedures. These include mandatory hostile environment training; briefing packs prior to arrival containing security advice and details of evacuation procedures; professional security briefing on arrival in Afghanistan; protected accommodation; armoured vehicles with armed protection; provision of close protection for medium and high risk movements; and, a location notification system which tracks all staff movement 24 hours per day. In the event of an emergency, DFID also has access to International Security Assistance Force and Coalition forces military assistance. An on-going risk assessment is in place to ensure that these procedures continue to be both appropriate and adequate.

Afghanistan/Iraq

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which non-governmental organisations the UK funds which operate in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq; and how much funding has been allocated for these activities in each of the last four years.

Hilary Benn: DFID is currently funding non-governmental organisations (NGO)s in Iraq through two principal mechanisms: the Political Participation Fund and the Civil Society Fund.
	The £5 million Iraq Civil Society Fund (CSF) supports projects that strengthen the capacity of Iraqi civil society organisations through partnerships with international NGOs. Projects funded include building women's leadership capacity, training for Iraqi trade union leaders, developing child rights, social work training and education about the risks of mines. Support has been given to Christian Aid, Save the Children (UK), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Help Age International, Women for Women International, Salvation Army, International Centre for Trade Union Rights, UNISON and the Women's National Commission. These partners have, in turn, supported a range of Iraqi partner organisations.
	The £7.5 million Political Participation Fund (PPF) provides grants to grass-roots Iraqi civil society organisations to enable potentially marginalised groups to participate in the political process. Projects funded include an NGO conference, human rights conference attended by Ann Clwyd MP, campaign to encourage women to register for the elections, media, elections training, and campaigns and workshops on the constitution and referendum. Under the PPF, the international NGOs we have supported are AMAR, Arab Gulf Studies Centre, Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), and the Irish Human Rights Network.
	We are also providing funding directly to:
	BBC World Service Trust, to strengthen independent TV and radio broadcasting in southern Iraq
	ILAC, to support development of the Iraqi justice sector
	Prior to 2004, DFID provided long term project support to AMAR, ACORN, CARE, Christian Aid, and Save the Children (UK) for their work in Iraq. Immediately after the conflict in April 2003, we provided emergency humanitarian support through ACTED, AMAR, CARE, 4RS, GOAL, Help Age International, International Medical Corps (IMC), MedAir, Merlin, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Muslim Hands, People in Need Foundation, Save the Children (UK), Solidarities, and War Child. We also contributed £28.5 million to the International Red Cross for their humanitarian appeals during 2003–05.
	The following table shows our disbursements to NGOs in Iraq during the last four financial years:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(23) 
		
		
			 Long Term NGO Project Support 2.4 0.7 0.7 0.4 
			 Emergency NGO Humanitarian Assistance — 4.4 1 0.2 
			 Civil Society Fund (CSF) — — 2.1 1.7 
			 Political Participation Fund (PPF) — — 1.7 1 
			 BBC-WST — — 1.6 2.5 
			 ILAC — — 1.4 0.6 
			 International Red Cross Appeals 1.5 17 10 — 
			 Total 3.9 22.1 18.5 6.4 
		
	
	(23)To date.
	DFID are funding the following NGOs which operate in Afghanistan:
	Aga Khan Foundation
	Afghan Aid
	Halo Trust
	Tearfund
	WOMANKIND
	Afghan Action
	Human Rights Council
	BBC World Service Trust
	CEDAW
	Action Aid
	Afghan's Women's Council
	Afghan Civil Society Forum
	Concern
	DACAAR,
	Relief International
	Mercy Corps,
	Catholic Relief Services,
	Swiss Peace
	Co-ordination for Humanitarian Assistance
	The following table provides figures for bilateral funding provided by DFID to non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan in each year since 2001.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 22.5 
			 2002–03 5.8 
			 2003–04 2.5 
			 2004–05 5.5 
			 2005–06 5.8 
		
	
	DFID also provides multilateral funds to non-governmental organisations through Partnership Programme Agreements (PPAs). PPAs are long-term agreements of three to five years with civil society organisations who have a strong track record of work in international development and an ability to make a contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
	As PPA funds are unearmarked, we cannot directly attribute funding to specific activities or countries. OXFAM, ActionAid, Christian Aid, and Save the Children UK however all have projects in Afghanistan and have received a total of £26.4 million this financial year through their Partnership Programme Agreements with DFID.

African Union

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the African Union's work on conflict prevention.

Hilary Benn: Supporting African leadership on conflict prevention, management, and peace building is the key to long-term success in improving peace and security in Africa. The African Union (AU)'s Peace and Security Council (PSC) protocol provides the framework for the African Union's work in this area. The 15-member PSC provides political direction and oversight to the AU's work on peace and security. The African AU has agreed a Common Africa Defence and Security Policy and has produced a Strategic Plan and Budget (agreed in July and December 2004 respectively) that sets out the priorities in the peace and security agenda until 2007. Key elements include: establishing a Panel of the Wise (PW) of eminent Africans to engage in preventive diplomacy and mediation; an Africa Standby Force (ASF) to give the PSC the ability to undertake peace support operations; and a Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) to inform and advise the PSC on preventive action. The Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) will support AU member states in setting and applying standards to strengthen the links between development, governance and peace and security. The AU is already playing a key role in addressing conflicts on the continent—as evidenced by its work in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Comoros, the Cote d'lvoire, Togo and Sudan.
	UK funds and activities have focused on supporting four priority areas essential for putting this system into place—support to the Conflict Management Centre in the Peace and Security Directorate of the AU Commission, help in operationalising the Africa Standby Force, funding and technical support to AU peace support operations, and support to the development of the AU's Continental Early Warning System. We have also provided financial and practical support to the African Union mission in Darfur.

Aid

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which 10 countries received most in aid from the UK in each year since 1997; and how much each received.

Hilary Benn: The following table details the top 10 recipients of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the UK in each year since 1997 along with the amount each country received:
	
		Table 1: Top ten recipients of UK bilateral official development assistance £ millions
		
			 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 India 94 India 113 India 81 Uganda 143 
			 Guyana 92 Tanzania 96 Bangladesh 71 India 135 
			 Zambia 57 Uganda 64 Uganda 60 Tanzania 101 
			 Uganda 48 Bangladesh 60 Ghana 57 Zambia 74 
			 Mozambique 44 Montserrat 39 Tanzania 55 Bangladesh 68 
			 Bangladesh 43 Ghana 39 Malawi 48 Malawi 64 
			 Tanzania 41 Malawi 34 Zambia 39 States of the ex-Yugoslavia 63 
			 Indonesia 35 China 33 South Africa 39 China 55 
			 Russia 34 Russia 33 China 37 Mozambique 55 
			 States of the Ex-Yugoslavia 31 South Africa 33 Kenya 34 Ghana 53 
		
	
	
		
			 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Tanzania 201 Serbia and Montenegro 306 India 202 India 202 
			 Mozambique 129 India 229 Tanzania 175 Congo Dem. Rep. 164 
			 India 121 Afghanistan 87 Bangladesh 160 Zambia 154 
			 Bangladesh 86 Ghana 82 Iraq 110 Iraq 150 
			 Ghana 68 Tanzania 69 Ghana 80 Ghana 144 
			 Uganda 57 Bangladesh 68 South Africa 75 Bangladesh 138 
			 Malawi 46 Peru 56 Pakistan 69 Afghanistan 122 
			 Zambia 39 Uganda 56 Malawi 68 Tanzania 118 
			 Kenya 38 Pakistan 45 Uganda 64 Ethiopia 80 
			 Sierra Leone 35 Kenya 36 Afghanistan 60 Nigeria 69 
		
	
	Source:
	Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: Development Assistance Committee Database

Aid Expenditure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid the UK has given to (a) Gibraltar, (b) British overseas territories and (c) Commonwealth countries in each of the last seven years.

Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member to the reply Igave to him on 12 December 2005; Official Report, column 1625W.
	Assistance provided to Commonwealth countries over the same period is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Country 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Antigua and Barbuda 626,275 5,604,912 5,220,288 1,761,105 1,494,592 95,324 42,343 
			 Bahamas -995 34,622 14,988 18,102 19,606 912 — 
			 Bangladesh 65,926,654 69,670,233 74,017,421 60,303,479 73,173,575 155,371,484 149,144,139 
			 Barbados 533,180 1,049,395 199,164 323,448 857,318 2,624,697 177,410 
			 Belize 9,357,252 14,876,223 8,135,547 5,541,272 11,080,823 1,670,144 1,641,795 
			 Botswana 3,275,016 3,044,756 2,481,372 1,990,184 1,094,251 503,525 227,529 
			 Brunei 6,344 6,343 6,072 18,521 21,300 3,656 2,768 
			 Cameroon 3,588,654 7,004,879 6,999,187 6,226,119 31,544,574 10,337,660 16,546,910 
			 Cyprus 379,970 188,237 146,557 93,718 58,939 8,601 16,142 
			 Dominica 2,530,695 2,480,524 1,174,451 990,116 1,832,549 1,286,590 1,086,771 
			 Fiji 441,071 392,559 425,234 432,686 377,847 320,381 295,957 
			 Gambia, The 979,373 1,369,957 1,747,554 2,043,399 893,772 428,659 406,379 
			 Ghana 62,856,020 51,886,968 74,699,871 54,479,208 90,708,547 77,950,715 136,323,692 
			 Grenada 1,140,991 922,737 615,736 443,696 501,977 566,380 6,022,139 
			 Guyana 22,962,429 16,232,846 31,001,814 16,429,518 14,952,149 17,857,683 8,786,445 
			 India 109,256,249 104,617,238 125,478,918 199,163,335 183,446,195 243,948,057 269,266,001 
			 Jamaica 10,140,356 9,042,899 7,550,116 8,927,239 8,613,623 5,366,598 9,677,149 
			 Kenya 41,537,762 32,358,807 62,155,031 33,988,937 63,023,801 28,452,542 37,823,762 
			 Kiribati 316,282 183,759 47,247 49,990 42,205 52,605 75,489 
			 Lesotho 4,149,915 2,939,031 2,257,924 2,717,516 2,847,562 3,317,981 3,521,501 
			 Malawi 52,550,450 49,057,721 55,143,933 49,562,725 52,210,622 57,343,703 56,428,612 
			 Malaysia 960,146 1,086,323 670,608 528,969 408,887 256,280 4,199,054 
			 Maldives 309,611 292,189 285,763 82,580 195,271 199,068 807,557 
			 Malta 146,385 99,173 121,759 71,202 118,730 12,963 — 
			 Mauritius 1,194,795 569,798 1,681,458 2,545,548 674,641 169,236 112,230 
			 Mozambique 28,901,817 70,642,789 43,303,817 134,132,607 39,100,998 36,712,943 47,940,379 
			 Namibia 3,861,143 3,571,224 2,712,008 2,016,976 2,205,927 1,366,045 1,201,407 
			 Nigeria 11,126,755 14,395,262 15,939,505 20,560,716 29,286,656 32,629,790 78,766,992 
			 Pakistan 26,907,092 23,472,009 15,872,041 44,838,085 46,851,975 66,298,721 55,279,016 
			 Papua New Guinea 13,068,358 3,136,581 1,245,314 2,464,955 798,430 1,173 — 
			 Seychelles 216,329 300,445 33,471 66,659 42,688 11,675 9,806 
			 Sierra Leone 9,148,934 29,798,282 34,113,424 36,741,313 32,189,598 34,280,436 27,430,790 
			 Singapore 133,321 139,384 166,078 82,759 87,259 72,584 41,744 
			 Solomon Islands 813,407 719,347 436,599 457,728 566,850 461,586 375,753 
			 South Africa, Republic of 34,666,476 47,795,682 36,422,992 43,812,456 57,195,603 93,321,379 53,734,635 
			 Sri Lanka 7,864,367 7,827,279 10,570,036 7,537,815 8,301,503 9,544,357 7,216,858 
			 St. Kitts-Nevis 609,256 98,751 1,699 1,038 18,474 34,992 681 
			 St. Lucia 442,227 886,098 1,007,038 738,446 682,052 441,234 361,536 
			 St. Vincent and Grenadines 681,052 311,217 216,557 116,524 2,686,085 9,230 11,690 
			 Swaziland 3,980,703 3,532,727 2,645,864 1,282,037 1,343,372 906,510 664,888 
			 Tanzania 77,886,526 74,708,627 111,737,069 205,492,884 98,347,546 162,372,230 129,976,650 
			 Tonga 113,025 98,652 116,076 100,522 37,146 548 — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 258,010 253,724 236,512 177,033 180,683 90,973 186,076 
			 Tuvalu 33,138 28,311 8,573 25,376 28,183 12,253 787 
			 Uganda 64,251,372 89,977,583 97,427,499 68,091,074 54,040,925 59,557,656 61,454,045 
			 Vanuatu 2,695,528 109,970 28,268 36,809 65,103 221,921 23,016 
			 Western Samoa 7,000 — 14,760 — — — — 
			 Zambia 33,537,469 46,642,533 93,342,940 59,202,793 45,139,594 32,304,171 163,537,392 
			 Totals Commonwealth 716,368,182 793,458,602 929,876,155 1,076,709,212 959,390,005 1,138,797,853 1,330,845,917

Chernobyl

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State forInternational Development what (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department has given in the last 12 months to the Government of Ukraine to ameliorate the health and other problems experienced by families as a consequence of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has provided assistance to those affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident through our share of the nuclear safety component of the European Community's (EC) Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) programme. This provides assistance to 12 countries in Eastern Europe and central Asia (in 2005 the UK's share of EC external assistance was 17.06 per cent.). The 2005 programme includes €17.9 million for Ukraine. Its main aim is to attain the highest level of nuclear safety, including the management of the Chernobyl site. In addition the programme includes €1.5 million for restarting previous agriculture activities and creating new jobs for those in the areas affected by the accident.
	DFID has not provided bilateral support for this specific purpose. However, other UK Government Departments have provided assistance bilaterally, as well as through the European Community, to the Government of Ukraine and to neighbouring countries to help to address the health and other problems experienced by families as a consequence of the accident at Chernobyl. Details of this assistance can be found in The Global Partnership—Progress during 2005 on the UK's programmes to address nuclear, chemical and biological legacies in the Former Soviet Union (URN 05/373)".
	Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and/or can be downloaded from www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/FSU/index.shtml.

Health Care (Africa)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures have been taken towards his Department's target of 67 per cent. of births in Africa being assisted by skilled birth attendants by 2006.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises the importance of skilled attendance at birth to prevent deaths and injury of mothers and children. The 2004 DFID strategy Reducing Maternal Deaths: Evidence and Action highlights that skilled attendants can only work effectively within a functioning health service with a proper network of services and referrals that is accessible to all women. Therefore, DFID's approach is to support country Governments in their efforts to develop their overall health services including access to skilled attendants for women giving birth.
	The UK invests substantially in helping countries in sub-Saharan Africa develop their health services; for example, we support international groups such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), provide direct support to country Government's overall and health budgets, and fund some targeted projects. We also fund a lot of operational research.
	In addition to supporting Government health plans, DFID also invests in programmes tackling specific issues. The shortage of health care workers in many African countries is a barrier to improving access to skilled birth attendants. In Malawi, where the shortage is particularly severe, we are supporting the Government's ambitious plans to tackle the problem. DFID is providing £100 million to the Malawian health sector—£55 million of which is earmarked for the emergency human resources programme which aims to improve recruitment and retention of health workers.
	DFID is committed to a year on year increase in spending on maternal health. DFID's bilateral expenditure (excluding spend through general poverty reduction budget support) on programmes marked as contributing towards improving maternal health has increased by 34 per cent. over the last three years (and by 41 per cent. if reproductive health services which contribute to reducing maternal mortality are included).

Health Care (Africa)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the governments of African countries on increasing the priority given to health care.

Hilary Benn: The average spend on health in many developing countries in Africa is well below the $35–40per capita that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend is necessary for essential health services. That is why the UK Presidencies of the G8 and EU last year focused on increasing the amount of aid provided to support African plans for poverty reduction, including for improving health services. G8 countries committed to provide an additional $25billion by 2010 and to support the removal of health user fees where countries wish to do so. African countries, for their part, committed to increase domestic resources channelled to development and develop long-term plans, including for health.
	DFID helps countries to strengthen their health services both through financial assistance and discussions about budget support with partner governments covering the priorities given to health in budget allocation.
	During my recent visits to Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Rwanda Idiscussed the importance of prioritising health care. Through visits to clinics in Kenya and Ethiopia earlier this year, I saw for myself how these governments are trying to tackle health care challenges.

Sierra Leone

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the people of Sierra Leone is classed as living in poverty.

Hilary Benn: The Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey of 2003–04 (the latest available figures) found that 70 per cent. of the population lived below the national poverty line (Leones 2,111 a day, which is theequivalent of £0.52 a day); and 26 per cent. of the population were found to be living in extreme poverty, defined in terms of a minimum calorific intake of 2,700 calories per day.

Sudan

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on UK humanitarian aid to Sudan.

Hilary Benn: Across the whole of Darfur, there are 1.8 million internally displaced people and 3.4 million dependent on humanitarian assistance. The priority is to provide help and protection for them, and to find a political solution that will allow people to return home and rebuild their lives. In the South of Sudan the humanitarian situation remains fragile. Pockets of instability, noticeably in the Upper Nile, Eastern and Western Equatoria, have resulted in continued internal displacement.
	Although the massive humanitarian effort in Darfur has had a positive impact on malnutrition and mortality rates, the region remains highly dependant on food aid. Instability, fighting and banditry in South and West Darfur, particularly along the border zone with Chad, is severely hampering humanitarian agencies operating in those areas. Violence and attacks on humanitarian agencies' staff and assets has lead to a reduction in presence, and total withdrawals in some areas, by both the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
	The UK is the second largest donor in Darfur (after the US), providing over £96 million since the crisis started in September 2003. These funds have been channelled through both UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and have meant that thousands of vulnerable people have been provided with shelter, food, water and basic health care. DFID have committed a further £67 million to humanitarian relief in Sudan in 2006–07. As part of this commitment, the UK is providing £40 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), a pioneering multi-donor fund, administered by the UN humanitarian co-ordinator. This new mechanism will help enable the UN to react more quickly and more flexible to both identified and unforeseen needs, not only in Darfur but across all of Sudan.
	In addition to funding vital NGO humanitarian programmes in the South, the UK is providing financial support to an emergency response fund for the South to deal with emergencies, such as the cholera outbreak. For longer term recovery and development, the UK is establishing the £10 million service delivery fund which we hope will be able to move quickly to support the basic provision of education, health, and water and sanitation. This act as a bridge to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund while it develops projects for funding to meet longer term development needs.

Defence Vetting Agency

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by the Defence Vetting Agency; and how many were employed in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: The following table gives the number of civilians employed by the Defence Vetting Agency in the last five years:
	
		Defence Vetting Agency
		
			 As at April:  
		
		
			 2001 350 
			 2002 280 
			 2003 300 
			 2004 340 
			 2005 320 
			 January 2006 320 
		
	
	Note:
	1.Figures include values for part time staff proportionate to those of full time staff.
	2.All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	FTE Source:
	DASA(Civilian)
	Information giving numbers of civilian staff employed within Defence Agencies is available through the Defence Analytical Services Agency website www.dasa.mod.uk

Infantry Regiments

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the results were of the brand recognition survey of Scottish infantry regiments; and what the recognition rates were within (a) the city of Dundee and (b) the counties of (i) Angus, (ii) Fife and (iii)Perthshire.

John Reid: holding answer 3 March 2006
	The research did not include analysis for the specific areas that you refer to.

Iraq/Afghanistan

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether working relations between British forces and local officials in Basra have been restored.

Adam Ingram: British officials continue to discuss re-engagement with Basrah's leaders in an attempt to restore normal working relations as soon as possible. In the meantime, Multi National Forces continue to engage at working level with the Iraqi Police and Army in Basrah Province wherever possible, in order to continue their valuable work on Security Sector Reform.

Leaf Class Tankers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) chartering costs, (b) maintenance budgets, (c) maintenance costs, (d) refitting costs, (e) operating budgets and (f) operating costs were of each of the Leaf Class of tankers in each year since their introduction.

Adam Ingram: Neither operating nor support budgets are managed on the basis of individual vessels or types of vessels and as such, there are no distinct, identifiable budgets available for the four Leaf Class Support Tankers.
	Actual refit and maintenance costs have been provided for financial years 1998–99 onwards, based on prices at the time. Costs prior to 1998 are no longer held.
	There is no management requirement for operating costs, including those associated with chartering, to be held by vessel type and these cannot therefore be provided. However, indicative costs, based on the cost of ownership of the Leaf Class, have been provided for each of the last three financial years. No indicative costs are held for earlier years.
	
		
			£ million 
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Bayleaf
			 Actual refit costs — — — — — 3.787 — 
			 Actual maintenance costs 0.018 0.254 0.145 0.162 0.236 0.249 0.259 
			 Indicative operating costs — — — — 8.186 7.194 7.400 
			 
			 Brambleleaf
			 Actual refit costs — 4.737 — — — — 7.240 
			 Actual maintenance costs 0.002 0.099 0.170 0.124 0.151 0.621 0.386 
			 Indicative operating costs — — — — 7.283 5.023 7.089 
			 
			 Oakleaf
			 Actual refit costs — — 4.368 — — 4.149 — 
			 Actual maintenance costs 0.034 0.075 0.162 0.122 0.119 0.251 0.317 
			 Indicative operating costs — — — — 3.554 2.675 4.291 
			 
			 Orangeleaf
			 Actual refit costs 5.484 — — — — — 5.490 
			 Actual maintenance costs 0.008 0.175 0.138 0.082 0.125 0.231 0.173 
			 Indicative operating costs — — — — 6.475 5.438 5.100

Royal Army Medical Corps

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) actual strength and (b) establishment of each regiment of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the strength and liability of the Royal Army Medical Corps as at 1 January 2006. Information at Regiment level is not available centrally.
	
		Trained strengths against liability for the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as at 1 January 2006
		
			  Strength Liability 
		
		
			 Total 2,810 3,270 
			 Officers 950 940 
			 Soldiers 1,860 2,330 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The liability figures consist of the UK Trained Army Personnel (where posts can be filled by Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel) and the Manning and Training Margin (MTM). The MTM provides liability cover to prevent gaps being left in the unit when personnel become unavailable for certain manning and training reasons.
	2.The data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
	3.Totals have been rounded separately and therefore may not be equal to the sum of their parts.

Building Regulations (Part L)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister ifhe will delay the implementation of part L of the Building Regulations for six months to allow business further time to acquaint itself with the accompanying documentation and software.

Yvette Cooper: In my press release of 13 September 2005 I announced that we were introducing the changes to part L of the Building Regulations two years early in April 2006. This includes a deferral of three months from the implementation date set out in the Energy White Paper, to give the building industry sufficient timeto prepare. Draft versions of the technical guidance were also made available in September 2005 and final software from October 2005. I intend to lay the statutory instrument and publish final approved documents in sufficient time for the April 2006 amendment.

Green Parks

Peter Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on planned funding of green parks in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England.

Phil Woolas: Public parks and green space are primarily funded by local authorities through their revenue budgets. Decisions on spending are therefore a matter for them to determine in line with local priorities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made more targeted money available for parks over the past five years, through the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund. The ODPM has also committed £5.45 million to green space projects in Northamptonshire, through its Growth Areas Fund programme.
	The quality of urban parks has improved since 2000, as recognised by the recent National Audit Office (NAO) report, 'Enhancing Urban Green Spaces'. TheODPM remains committed to supporting local authorities to deliver quality parks and green spaces through our Cleaner, Safer, Greener Communities programme.

Housing

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 188W, to the hon. Member for Brent East, on housing, how many units (a) built and (b) procured under (i) the Starter Home Initiative, (ii)the Key Worker Living Programme and (iii) other key workers housing schemes have been sold to non-key workers under the cascade mechanism in (A) the south-east, (B) London and (C) the East of England in each year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: The cascade mechanism developed for the Key Worker Living programme did not come into operation until 2005. No dwellings developed through the Starter Home Initiative or Challenge Fund are subject to the cascade mechanism.
	Thirty-two dwellings in the south-east out of the 2190 dwellings completed through the Key Worker Living programme had their eligibility criteria widened to include non-key workers through the cascade mechanism in 2005–06.

Housing

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the final figures were for expenditure on transitional local authority social housing grant in each Government office region in 2004–05.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows spend in each Government Office region in 2004–05 for Transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant (TLASHG). The table is divided into spend provided via the Housing Corporation to Registered Social Landlords for schemes in debt free authorities and that provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to with debt local authorities who received interest only payments in order to support the repayment of loans.
	
		Transitional LASHG expenditure 2004–05 £ million
		
			 Region Debt free LAs With debt LAs 
		
		
			 London 5.28 4.63 
			 South East 14.86 2.15 
			 South West 6.4 1.8 
			 East of England 8.25 0.97 
			 East Midlands 1.04 0.25 
			 West Midlands 1.19 0.16 
			 Yorks and Humberside 0.11 0.25 
			 North East 0.13 0 
			 North West 0.59 0.32 
			 Total 37.85 10.53 
		
	
	Figures for with debt authorities are subject to validation and do not include retrospective claims of around £90,000.

Animal Cruelty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) allegations, (b) investigations and (c) prosecutions have occurred under (i) the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962, (ii) the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 and (iii) the Docking and Nicking of Horses Act in the last 10 years.

Fiona Mactaggart: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 1 March 2006, Official Report, column800W.

Anti-Semitic Incidents

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle anti-Semitic incidents in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: The Government deplores all forms of racism and is committed to tackling anti-Semitism wherever it exists.
	In recent years the Government have strengthened both the legal framework against race discrimination and the criminal penalties for offences such as incitement to racial hatred and for racially or religiously aggravated assault and criminal damage.
	We have robust police and CPS policies-Police forces are alert to crimes committed against members of all faith communities and take appropriate steps to safeguard people and property.
	In May 2005, The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) published a Hate Crime Manual: Hate Crime: Delivering a Quality Service." The manual provides tactical and practical guidance to police forces and authorities on the handling and investigation of hate crimes including racially and religiously motivated offences.
	We are teaching young people through the National Curriculum about citizenship and there is a statutory requirement on schools to teach about the Holocaust. Government also supports the annual commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day to reinforce the message that racism and prejudice can have catastrophic consequences.

Private Schools (Charitable Status)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate a review of the charitable status of private schools.

Paul Goggins: Many, but not all, independent schools have charitable status. An organisation qualifies for charitable status only if it has a charitable purpose-such as the advancement of education-and is for the public benefit. The Charity Commission, the independent regulator, will be required, under the Charities Bill now before Parliament, to issue guidance on public benefit. After the Bill is enacted, the Commission will begin a programme to review the public benefit of different groups of charities, including fee-charging charities.

Bowel Cancer

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the five-year survival rate is for bowel cancer in (a) England and (b) Wales.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 March 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what the five year survival rate is for bowel cancer in (a) England and (b) Wales. I am replying in her absence. (57220)
	For England, the latest available survival rates for colon and rectal cancer are for adult patients diagnosed during 1998–2001 and followed up to the end of 2003. The figures were published on the National Statistics website on 9 May 2005, and are available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D8982.xls
	For Wales, the latest available survival rates for colon and rectal cancer are for adult patients diagnosed during 1995–1999 and followed up to the end of 2002. The figures were published in Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Survival in Wales on 15 June 2005 and are available at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/documents/242/ACF68D.pdf
	Figures for the two countries are not directly comparable for a number of reasons, including differences in coverage and follow-up period.
	The latest available five-year survival rates for colon and rectal cancer are summarised in the table below.
	
		Five-year age-standardised(29) relative survival for adult patients(30) diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in England during 1998–2001 and in Wales during 1995–99, by sex Percentage
		
			  Five-year relative survival(32) 
			 Cancer(31) England 1998–2001 Wales 1995–99 
		
		
			 Colon   
			 Men 49.4 49.1 
			 Women 50.2 45.2 
			 Rectum   
			 Men 50.0 46.6 
			 Women 53.6 50.5 
		
	
	(29)As cancer survival varies with age at diagnosis, the relative rates for all ages (15–99) have been age-standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time, thus making them comparable with previously published figures.
	(30)Aged 15 to 99 years.
	(31)Defined by codes in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD10). In this table colon cancer is taken to be code C18 and rectal cancer C19-C21.
	(32)Figures for the two countries are not directly comparable for a number of reasons, including difference in coverage and follow-up period.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit.

Earnings

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings of full-time employees in Stroud constituency were in April of each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 March 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what the average earnings of full-time employees in the Stroud constituency were in April each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (57238)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for full-time employees on adult rate whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach tables showing Average Gross Weekly Earnings by parliamentary constituency for the years 1997 to 2005 for Full Time Employees on Adult Rates. These statistics are also available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13101.
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		Gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs(38) by place of work—Stroud £
		
			  Median Mean 
		
		
			 1997 320 344 
			 1998 349 375 
			 1999 326 370 
			 2000 352 392 
			 2001 357 435 
			 2002 388 455 
			 2003 371 435 
			 2004 395 455 
			 2004(39) 406 449 
			 2005 413 469 
		
	
	(38)Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was not affected by absence.
	(39)Includes supplementary survey data.
	Note:
	The median replaces the mean as the headline statistic. The weighted mean is the sum of the weighted values divided by the sum of the weights. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.
	
		Gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs(40) by place of residence—Stroud £
		
			  Median Mean 
		
		
			 1997 (41)— (41)— 
			 1998 (41)— (41)— 
			 1999 (41)— (41)— 
			 2000 (41)— (41)— 
			 2001 (41)— (41)— 
			 2002 411 490 
			 2003 427 514 
			 2004 424 530 
			 2004(42) 426 535 
			 2005 454 554 
		
	
	(40)Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was not affected by absence.
	(41)Data not available.
	(42)Includes supplementary survey data.
	Note:
	The median replaces the mean as the headline statistic. The weighted mean is the sum of the weighted values divided by the sum of the weights. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage increase in the NHS budget has been in each year since 1997, (a) in cash terms, (b) taking into account UK inflation, (c) taking into account public sector inflation and (d) taking into account NHS inflation.

Liam Byrne: The table shows net national health service expenditure and percentage increases from 1996–97 to 2007–08 in cash terms, adjusted by gross domestic product (GDP) deflator, and by NHS specific inflation.
	An index for public sector inflation is not available.
	
		NHS net expenditure: England, 1996–97 to 2007–08
		
			   Net NHS expenditure(57) (£ billion) Percentage increase Percentage real terms increase(58) Percentage increase adjusted for NHS specific inflation(59) 
		
		
			 Cash(60)  
			 1996–97 Out-turn 32.997 — — — 
			 1997–98 Out-turn 34.664 5.1 2.0 2.9 
			 1998–99 Out-turn 36.608 5.6 2.9 1.6 
			 1999–2000 Out-turn 39.881 8.9 6.8 4.1 
			 Resource budgeting stage 15   
			 1999–2000 Out-turn 40.201 — — — 
			 2000–01 Out-turn 43.932 9.3 7.9 5.0 
			 2001–02 Out-turn 49.021 11.6 8.9 6.5 
			 2002–03 Out-turn 54.042 10.2 6.8 6.5 
			   
			 Resource budgeting stage 26, 7   
			 2003–04 Out-turn(64) 63.001 — — — 
			 2004–05 Out-turn 69.706 10.6 8.3 — 
			 2005–06 Plan 76.387 9.6 7.0 — 
			 2006–07 Plan 84.324 10.4 7.7 — 
			 2007–08 Plan 92.643 9.9 7.0 — 
		
	
	(57) Figures are not consistent over the period to 2007–08, hence no comparisons should be made across different periods.
	(58) Based on the gross domestic product deflator series as at 23 December 2005.
	(59) NHS inflation index is only available up to 2003–04.
	(60) Expenditure pre 1999–2000 is on a cash basis.
	(61) Expenditure figures from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are on a stage 1 resource budgeting basis.
	(62) Expenditure figures from 2003–04 to 2007–08 are on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis.
	(63) The resource budgeting stage 2 expenditure figures shown for 2004–05 to 2007–08 are consistent with the 2005 departmental report and chief executive's report.
	(64) Estimated.

Primary Care Trusts (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the financial situation of the primary care trusts in North Yorkshire.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire primary care trusts (PCTs)—Financial position 2004–05 and 2005–06 £000
		
			 Organisation name 2004–05 Final accounts surplus/(deficit) 2005–06 Month 6 forecast outturn surplus/(deficit) 
		
		
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 0 0 
			 Selby and York PCT(66) (6,598) (9,968) 
			 East Yorkshire PCT 0 0 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT (6,116) 0 
			 Eastern Hull PCT 192 0 
			 West Hull PCT 35 0 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 36 0 
			 Hambleton and  Richmondshire PCT 3 0 
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural  District PCT 32 0 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and  Ryedale PCT 1 0 
		
	
	(66) Phase one turnaround organisation.
	Source:
	2005–06 monthly financial monitoring returns and 2004–05 audited summarisation schedules.
	The forecast outturn position for 2005–06, as submitted by National Health Service organisations (strategic health authorities, PCT and NHS trusts) at the mid-year point (month six), is available in the Library and is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOflnformation/ClassesOflnformation/fs/en.